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Sun City residents want to improve adult literacy

Jessicah Peters/The Sun TodayLinda Fischer and Madelon Matile were named officers for the Friends of Literacy Volunteers of the Lowcountry.

For The Sun Today Betty Hershman tutors the beginner English class at Literacy Volunteers of the Lowcountry.

For The Sun TodayLiteracy Volunteers of the Lowcountry gives adults the opportunity to learn basic skills like reading and writing.

Celebrating its 40th anniversary, Literacy Volunteers of the Lowcountry has made an impact in Beaufort County by offering a program that helps improve adults’ reading and writing skills.

Sun City residents Madelon Matile and Linda Fischer have been tutors in the program for several years. They were recently named officers at Friends of Literacy Volunteers of the Lowcountry.

The volunteer tutors work one-on-one or in small groups in reading, writing, math and speaking, in an effort to support adults who want to succeed in the workplace. Last year, the agency served more than 800 adult learners at seven locations in Beaufort County and it continues to grow.

Matile spent many years as a teacher and more than 10 years as a tutor, so it was easy to continue her tutoring on a volunteer basis.

When she moved to Sun City, she began tutoring students at Hardeeville Elementary School and decided to join the efforts of LVL. Matile now tutors students who need to study for the GED.

“During my career, I taught learning-disabled children so I have the experience to recognize when someone is struggling because of a learning disability,” Matile said. “I try to help them make progress when it comes to reading and writing.”

Matile said through her volunteer work with LVL she’s moved out of her comfort zone to better understand how adults are struggling at work and in their own homes.

“I’ve definitely become more empathetic of the people who can’t read or write, because it’s something that we take for granted each and every day. Something as simple as filling out a job application can be difficult,” Matile said.

Fischer joined the LVL efforts about five years ago without any previous experience as a tutor. Fischer, who lived in Washington, D.C., became overwhelmed after a man at the bus stop asked her to read where the bus was going.

“Every afternoon, he would ask me to tell him when his bus would arrive because he couldn’t read,” Fischer said. “It just astounded me because reading was my life. I knew when I moved to Sun City, I wanted to help other adults who couldn’t read.”

Fischer and Matile were elected as officers on the Friends of Literacy Volunteers of the Lowcountry executive committee. The two women will help the group’s fundraising efforts and provide additional office assistance while they continue to tutor adult students.

Jean Heyduck, LVL executive director, said the Sun City residents bonded through their volunteerism.

“Linda and Madelon were recruited to join Friends of Literacy and although they are new to the committee this year, we know they’ll contribute greatly to our program’s success,” Heyduck said.

Heyduck said becoming a tutor is a tremendous commitment of time and energy and sometimes volunteers want to go beyond tutoring. That is exactly what Matile and Fischer have done.

Fischer said she got involved because she could never forget the man on the bus who couldn’t read.

“It’s important for everyone to read. There are some who didn’t have the opportunity to learn that well while in school and they want to increase their abilities so they can read to their children or move up in the workforce,” Fischer said.

Matile said it can be a challenge to identify what some of the adults have been through.

“Many don’t have an education background, so we must accommodate to their needs and acclimate ourselves to their level and it’s not always easy,” Matile said. “You receive a sense of accomplishment when you’ve helped someone receive their GED or improved the skills that they didn’t know they had.”